The boat was offered as either a three-cabin owner version or a four-cabin charter model. Both layouts reflect a design brief centered on comfortable liveaboard cruising without sacrificing passage-making ability.
Design and Construction
The Leopard 44 was built on an industrial scale at Robertson and Caine’s large plant in Cape Town, South Africa. Its hull measures 42ft 7in overall, with a 23ft 9in beam, a modest 4ft 2in draft, and 27,811lb of displacement. Despite that displacement, the boat feels light on the water.
Construction consists of vacuum-bagged E-glass over a balsa core. Isophthalic gelcoat and vinylester resin are applied to resist osmotic blistering. Balsa coring through the hulls and deck reduces weight while adding stiffness, while the topsides flare above the waterline to increase interior volume without hurting performance.
A fiberglass liner carrying the interior floors and much of the furniture is bonded to the hull. The lower bow sections contain crash boxes behind watertight bulkheads, and the bridgedeck extends well forward between the hulls. A solid hardtop flows smoothly into the cabintop above the aft cockpit.
Inside, cherry laminate woodwork and a maple laminate sole keep maintenance demands low. Good insulation separates the cabins from the engine compartments, and even the air-conditioning units are enclosed in sound insulation.
Rig, Sailing, and Handling
All halyards and sheets lead to the raised helm through Spinlock rope clutches and three Lewmar winches. The test boat had no traveler, which kept maneuvering straightforward from the steering station, where a clear 360-degree view surrounds the skipper. Owners report that the boat is exceptionally easy to sail because everything, including the electric winches, is led aft to the helm.
The stable platform proves quicker under sail than under power. During a measured Biscayne Bay trial in 12 knots of wind, the Leopard 44 made 7.5 knots with a square-top mainsail and 120 percent genoa. Owners report sailing at 35 degrees off the wind and easily reaching half the wind speed in up to about 20 knots.
Standard power comes from twin 29hp Yanmar engines with saildrives. The test boat’s optional 39hp engines drove it to 8 knots at 2,800 rpm. Writing in Cruising World, test sailors also found the boat maneuverable enough to complete a 180-degree turn in little more than 50 feet.
Cockpits and Accommodations
The forward cockpit—a first for the Leopard line—has an L-shaped settee that seats two or accommodates four around a fold-down table. It’s reached through a large watertight door in the saloon, and the cabintop’s forward extension shades the bow-facing lounge.
Aft, the main cockpit seats eight around the dinette. It also has a reversible rolled seatback and a port-side settee. Curtains can be lowered around both cockpits when the weather deteriorates.
In the three-cabin owner layout, the entire starboard hull is reserved for the principals. A queen berth sits aft, accompanied by hanging lockers and a small study, while the head is forward behind a watertight bulkhead. The port hull mirrors this arrangement with two queen berths and a shared head. In the four-cabin version, the port and starboard hulls mirror each other.
The L-shaped galley sits aft to port and gives the cook an all-round view. The navigation desk and electrical panel are opposite. Headroom is 6ft 5in, and the berths measure 6ft 7in by 4ft 11in. Light enters through the forward and aft saloon doors and through overhead hatches.
Equipment and Practical Details
A full-span trampoline stretches across the bows. Aft, hinged stainless-steel davit arms lower by means of winches in the cockpit ceiling, keeping the dinghy clear.
The forepeak stowage areas can be reached through Lewmar deck hatches or through the forward cabins. Large Lewmar hatches open into the engine rooms, which provide enough space to crouch and reach every part.
Transom platforms with handrails make it easier to board from a dinghy or from the water. The house bank consists of twin 180AH batteries, with 96AH engine-start batteries. An optional generator fits into a forward-cockpit locker.
The Verdict
The Leopard 44 refines the Robertson and Caine formula with a genuinely useful forward cockpit and a helm that puts every control within the skipper’s reach. It sails with real pace and points high, while the owner version’s private starboard hull remains a strong attraction for liveaboard cruisers.
The gelcoat and vinylester-resin layup is intended to resist osmosis, and the bow crash boxes add peace of mind. However, the balsa-cored structure requires the usual vigilance for water intrusion around fittings.
Pros
- Forward cockpit with a watertight saloon door, new to the Leopard line
- All sail controls led to a raised helm with a 360-degree view
- Owner version dedicates the entire starboard hull to the principals
- Osmosis-resistant gelcoat and vinylester-resin hull layup
- Crash boxes behind watertight bow bulkheads
Cons
- Balsa core throughout requires careful inspection for leaks
- Lack of a traveler on the test boat may limit fine mainsail trim
- Standard 29hp engines are modest beside the optional 39hp units
